Hundreds of cars caught fire Thursday inside a junkyard in Lancaster, authorities confirmed.
The fire was reported before 2 p.m. at the recycling center in the 400 block of West Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The blaze began after an employee tried to crush two to three vehicles inside a car compactor causing those cars to burst into flames.
It’s estimated that the yard has some 300 towed vehicles within the premises.
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An evacuation order was issued for nearby businesses from Avenue h8 to Avenue I near the Sierra Highway.
Neighbors were warned about the air quality as the smoke from the fire may be toxic from burning tires and car parts.
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No injures were reported.
